Apple Reinstating Employee Mask Mandate at Approximately 100 U.S. Retail Stores

Apple retail employees at around 100 stores will need to go back to wearing a mask while working, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is mandating masks for employees again due to a rising number of COVID cases across the United States.

apple store palo alto
Customers who visit an Apple Store are not required to wear a mask at this time, but Apple is continuing to recommend masks for all ‌Apple Store‌ visitors.

Apple has been shifting its operating policies throughout the pandemic to keep in line with local regulations and to mitigate risk for employees and customers in areas where COVID is spiking. Apple stopped requiring masks in March when COVID levels were lower, and masks still aren't required for employees in all locations.


In addition to requiring masks for retail employees at some locations, Apple today told corporate employees that they must go back to wearing masks when in common areas. Apple is also maintaining its two day in-office work week for corporate employees for the time being, and will delay going to a three-day work week.

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Top Rated Comments

Agent OrangeZ Avatar
39 months ago
"Just 2 weeks to flatten the curve..."
Score: 64 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Naraxus Avatar
39 months ago
Yeah no. I am done with wearing masks.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
profets Avatar
39 months ago
What's amazing about masks is that comparison after comparison of neighbouring regions where one has a mask mandate and the other does not results in near identical rates of cases and transmission.

End this theatre already.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
no_idea Avatar
39 months ago
At what point will these companies realize that you cannot outrun a pandemic nor prevent it. Wearing masks just delays the inevitable. Common sense would indicate the reason why the numbers were so low a few months ago is because nearly everyone caught omnicron and we had a “herd” immunity of some sort. Stop trying to outrun this thing. If it runs it’s course, it will eventually subside
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ajfahey Avatar
39 months ago
How did the human race ever survive without masks?
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
barkomatic Avatar
39 months ago
I don't understand how requiring masks only for employees helps either employees or customers. Not that I think either group should be required to wear them at this point.

Looking more broadly, employees can go out without masks in a variety of environments outside of work, but suddenly requiring masks in this one scenario somehow protects them?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)